| Author |
 Replies: 6 / Views: 1,819 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
980 Posts |
I'd never heard of this before. Anyone know what coins were/are used? Kinda nifty...
Keel Laying and Ancient Coin Ceremony Mark Milestone for First of 10 New Tankers Being Built at South Philadelphia Shipyard
10/25/2005 12:52:00 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: City and Assignment Desks, Daybook Editor
Contact: Tom Marinucci of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc., 215-875-2740 or 609-634-2246 (cell) or thomas.marinucci@phillyshipyard.com
News Advisory:
WHAT: Keel Laying and Ancient Coin Ceremony Mark Milestone for First of 10 New Tankers Being Built at South Philadelphia Shipyard
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. (APSI) (formerly known as Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard), 2100 Kitty Hawk Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19112
DETAILS: Assembly begins in the dry dock under the Goliath crane on the keel section of the first of 10 product tankers being built. In keeping with ancient shipbuilding tradition, there will be a coin ceremony in which representatives from Aker and its leasing partner, Overseas Shipholding Group (NYSE: OSG) will place several lucky coins in the massive keel section as symbols of good luck and safe travels. The coins, under the enormous weight of the steel, will be affixed to the hull for the life of the vessel.
The tankers, the first of their kind to be built in Philadelphia since 1981, will each weigh 46,000 dead weight tons (dwt) and will represent the most modern ships in the domestic Jones Act fleet. They will be used to carry refined petroleum products among various U.S. ports. The shipyard, located on the site of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard, has produced three commercial container vessels and is in the process of completing its fourth as it simultaneously builds the first of the $1 billion, 10-ship product tanker order for OSG.
Don
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
I have no Idea what coins they would use !!
But it is very interesting !!
Thanks for posting it Don.
Rick
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by SFDukie
will place several lucky coins in the massive keel section as symbols of good luck and safe travels.
Maybe?  |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I remember from my own sailing days in the Pacific NW in my ancient times (1970s and early 80s) and from reading sailing magazines that this tradition is maintained in modern times, particularly with wooden sailing boats, but also with plastic sailboats. When the mast is stepped for the first time, a coin (doesn't have to be an old coin) is placed under the mast before it is raised. It's supposed to bring good luck and fair seas.
Coins and sailing seem to have gone hand in hand throughout history and literature. Two events come to mind: Columbus is reputed to have nailed a gold coin to the Santa Maria's mast to present to the first sailor to sight land. And Captain Ahab on the Pequod also nailed a coin to the ship's mast for the first sailor to sight "the white whale". I'm certain there are many other examples of coins relating to ships, sailors, and sea stories.
Fred
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1203 Posts |
Somewhere I read that even before Morgan Fred's time, the ancient Greeks were placing coins along the keels of their trading vessels. It had something to do with keeping them on course and not getting lost and falling off the world when it came to the edge.
Guess we will just have to ask Fred if he remembers ever being lost while sailing the Pacific.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
980 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by OldDan
Somewhere I read that even before Morgan Fred's time, the ancient Greeks were placing coins along the keels of their trading vessels. It had something to do with keeping them on course and not getting lost and falling off the world when it came to the edge.
Guess we will just have to ask Fred if he remembers ever being lost while sailing the Pacific.
 |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by OldDan
Somewhere I read that even before Morgan Fred's time, the ancient Greeks were placing coins along the keels of their trading vessels. It had something to do with keeping them on course and not getting lost and falling off the world when it came to the edge.
Guess we will just have to ask Fred if he remembers ever being lost while sailing the Pacific.
Actually, I was just reminiscing on some of my sea adventures with my old buddy Ferdinand (that's Mr. Magellan to the younger set). There was this one time when I could have sworn we were just a little west of some really neat peninsula, but Ferdie (as we so fondly remember him), using his superior navigation skills showed that we were in fact east of this huge island the natives called Nippon. I was 180 off course, but Ferdie knew exactly where we were. Then there was this other time I was sailing under a real jerk by the name of Bligh... but that's another story for another time.   |
| |
Replies: 6 / Views: 1,819 |
|
Posted 11/01/2005 3:52 pm
